The Tiyanak

The Sanctuary

Matt kept a tight hold on Alicia as she unlocked the door. Matt gently pushed her in and closed the door behind them. Once inside, he put his hands to her cheeks.

"Jesus, you're frozen!" Matt gasped, his hands feeling like he had grabbed an iceberg. Even though he had wrapped her hoodie around her the first time he found her, it did absolutely nothing to warm her.

"We'd better get you warmed up. I'll get you a cup of tea."

Alicia nodded. "K-k-kitchen's that way," she stammered, pointing.

One boiled kettle and two mugs later, Alicia was feeling much warmer. The colour had returned to her cheeks. Her hands cuddled the warm mug as she took a long slurp of the boiling hot liquid that melted the cold inside of her.

"I have to say," she said, "this is the best cup of tea I've ever had. What's your secret?"

"Nothing to it really," Matt said, "you just let the tea bag settle in the water for a bit."

"Oh," Alicia said. "Ok."

Matt's eyebrows frowned. "Wait, you don't just put the milk in straight after the water do you?"

Alicia ducked her head down like a frightened schoolgirl trying to avoid bullies. "Maybe."

Matt shook his head. "That is the BIGGEST sin anyone can commit!" he sighed. "You work in a café, you should know better!"

Alicia laughed louder than expected, so much that she covered her mouth afterwards in shock. "Sorry, that was just..."

"It's ok," Matt said, "I guess I'm just a bit of a fusspot when it comes to making tea."

Alicia took another sip of her tea, her insides feeling warmer with each drink. Matt took a long slurp, and Alicia could see something was on his mind as he put his cup down and looked at the floor. He plucked up his courage and looked at Alicia. "Listen, I'm sorry I scared you, I mean, I just... I just get so angry with rapists. They're the fucking scum of the Earth. I just lost my shit and... I'm not normally like that."

"It's all right," Alicia replied, hanging on his every word. "How was Joe?"

Matt took another sip, this one shorter. "I... left him to come after you," Matt replied. "I heard someone call an ambulance. I probably have the police after me now."

"Well," Alicia said, "as far as first dates go – this could have gone better, right?"

"Yeah," Matt laughed.

Alicia put her cup down, her arms starting to shake and her eyes becoming wet. As much as she tried to keep it in, her grief spilled forward in one big maelstrom.

"Hey," she heard Matt.

"I'm sorry," Alicia said, wiping her eyes. "It's just... I'm so fucked up right now... and you've been n-n-nothing but kind. I, I don't deserve you as a friend... I'm so sorry..."

Matt walked up to her, kneeling down and placing his hand on top of hers'. "You have nothing to apologise for. The shit you've gone through, I can't imagine how hard it's been. You and Sasha."

Alicia sniffed and wiped her nose with the cloth of her hoodie, staining it with snot and tears. "So, no tissues nearby?"

Alicia laughed again. Even the smallest thing Matt said to her just brought her joy. More than she deserved.

"Here, let me get you something to wipe your nose with. Your hoodie has enough crap on it."

But as Matt tried to stand, Alicia pulled him back. Her eyes caught his, and for that moment, she felt like she was swimming in them. His perfectly blue eyes were like an ocean, and by being in them, all was calm. With him, the screams disappeared, like they never existed. With him, her heart didn't feel so heavy that it fell down into her stomach. With him, the screams vanished. She couldn't feel the gnawing in the back of her head like she would have recently. It was as if he were the perfect cure for her disease. With him, she could be something she hadn't been in ages.

"Would you," Alicia said nervously, "like to stay tonight?"

Matt's eyebrows raised, surprised by that sudden question. "Well, I don't know, if you need to be-"

"Please stay."

His eyebrows raised even higher by the suddenness of Alicia's demand. He went silent for a few before he nodded. "Sure."

Alicia blacked out, the exhaustion finally catching up with her.

When she opened her eyes next, it was as if time skipped once more – she had her mouth on Matt's, her hands digging into his muscular body, as if trying to tear out the lines in his muscles.

When she opened her eyes next, she was unclothed, on her back and breathing heavily. But she was happy to be in the moment.

When she opened her eyes next, she was shouting "Fuck me hard!"

When she opened her eyes next, she was crying. "I'm sorry."

When she opened her eyes next, it was morning. She was fully clothed.

And Matt wasn't there.

And her alarm was buzzing.